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I. SUPPLY OF MECHANISED
BOATS ON SUBSIDY UNDER HIGHER PURCHASE SYSTEM
The planned and Scientific development in the fisheries sector was started in Lakshadweep from 1959 onwards when the department of fisheries was
established. Since then the department has been formulating and implementing various developmental programmes. The major and important programme was
the Mechanisation of fishing by introducing Mechanised boats. Tuna is the only abundant resource of the sea around Lakshadweep on which now the
fisheries development is established. Specially designed Mechanised boats have been introduced for catching tuna using the typical method of "Pole
and Line Live bait fishing". Under this programme, such types of mechanised fishing boats have been constructed / procured and supplied to the
fishermen on subsidy under Higher Purchase system. The present pattern of subsidy allowed is 20% on the cost hull and 25% on the cost of engine.
So far 503 mechanised boats of 25 feet, 30 feet and 34 feet such type of boats and 7nos. of 38feet boats have been supplied to the fishermen.
Besides these, boat building materials required for the repair and maintenance of the fishing boats are also supplied to the fishermen.
The details of supply of mechanised boats under the programme is given in the table below.
ISLAND
WISE AVAILABILITY OF FISHING BOATS
Island |
Contrycrafts |
Mechanised Boats |
Agatti |
151 |
130 |
Amini |
51 |
43 |
Androth |
49 |
36 |
Bitra |
16 |
9 |
Chethlath |
31 |
34 |
Kadmath |
100 |
26 |
Kalpeni |
85 |
33 |
Kavaratti |
260 |
89 |
Kiltan |
40 |
60 |
Minicoy |
137 |
50 |
Grant Total |
918 |
510 |
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II. SUPPLY OF IN BOARD
ENGINES, OUTBOARD MOTORS, AND NAVIGATION EQUIPMENTS UNDER HIGHER PURCHASE
SYSTEM |
This is yet another
developmental programme implemented in support of the Ist programme. Under
this programme Marine Engines and Outboard Motors are supplied at full
cost under Higher Purchase System to fishermen by the department.
The inboard engines are supplied for the replacement of old
and irreparable engines of fishing boats acquired by the fishermen
earlier, the engine of which became irreparable in the long run and for
installation in the new mechanised boats constructed by the fishermen
themselves. Outboard motors are also supplied at full cost under
Higher Purchase system to the traditional fishermen for the motorisation
to the country crafts used for fishing. Besides these, navigational
equipments like Global Positioning System ( GPS) and Very High Frequency
(VHF) communication sets are also supplied at full cost under Higher
Purchase System as Navigational aids. The table below gives the details on
supply of inboard engines and outboard motors.
DETAILS ON
SUPPLY OF ENGINES
Year |
Outboard Motors |
Inboard Engines |
Navigational
Aids |
GPS |
VHF |
Up to 1998-1999 |
|
127 |
|
|
1999-2000 |
|
7 |
|
|
2000-2001 |
6 |
7 |
|
|
2001-2002 |
8 |
1 |
|
|
2002-2003 |
25* |
10** |
|
|
2003-2004 |
|
1 |
|
|
2004-2005 |
|
|
40 |
55 |
Total |
39 |
153 |
40 |
55 |
The
implementation of the above programmes had great impact in the production
of fish catch though the development achieved in the sector is on
small scale basis. The fish catch during 1960's when the planned
developmental programmes started was hardly 500 tones caught by primitive
methods of fishing. Now, on an average basis the fish catch has been
increased to about 12000 tones / annum. The fish landing in
Lakshadweep from 1997 to 2002 is given in the table below.
FISH LANDING IN '000' TONES
Year |
Tuna |
Shark |
Seer fish |
Misc. |
Total |
1997 |
8072 |
221 |
65 |
2054 |
10412 |
1998 |
12299 |
131 |
99 |
2097 |
14626 |
1999 |
7624 |
139 |
116 |
5201 |
13080 |
2000 |
7070 |
145 |
202 |
2664 |
10082 |
2001 |
9343 |
746 |
137 |
3246 |
12872 |
2002 |
6655 |
62 |
190 |
2342 |
9149 |
2003 |
8148 |
84 |
147 |
1651 |
10030 |
2004 |
7464 |
97 |
158 |
2793 |
10512 |
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III. DEVELOPMENT OF DEEP SEA
FISHING |
The fishing in Lakshadweep is developed only on small scale
basis. The vast deep sea varieties of fishes available in the
sea around Lakshadweep is still unexploited. In order to
diversify the fishing to exploit the deep sea varieties of fishes
like Yellowfine tuna, Big eye tuna, Blue fine tuna, Sharks etc.
bigger fishing vessels and diversified method are to be diploid.
Hence the department has introduced 38feet and 55feet medium size fishing
vessels for the operation of deep sea gillnet and Long Lines. One of
the 38footer and the 55 feet vessel are presently operated by the
Lakshadweep Development Corporation on experimental basis.
Introduction of more such vessels will be considered on the basis of the
result. Besides, the materials required for the
fabrication of fishing gears and other fishing implements and HSD Oil,
Lube Oil etc. are also supplied to the fishermen by the department.
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IV. REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF
FISHING BOATS |
The department has supplied 510
mechanised fishing boats to the fishermen of Lakshadweep. Almost all the
boats are operated for different types of fishing. But
for the incidental and annual repair and maintenance of these
boats there is no private workshops available in Lakshadweep. Therefore
the department has established one each marine workshops with all
machineries and equipments in all the ten inhabited islands
and the 11th one in the uninhabited island Suheli which is a good fishing
centre. The incidental and annual repair and maintenance
of private fishing boats are carried out in these workshops
collecting a nominal repair charges. These workshops are
undertaking the repair and maintenance of departmental boats also.
Besides these all the spare parts of various types of marine engines,
outboard motors, materials required for the maintenance of boats are also
supplied to fishermen by the department. |
V. DEVELOPMENT OF SHORE BASED
INFRA STRUCTURAL FACILITIES |
In the sea around Lakshadweep the only abundant
resource is skipjack tuna which is caught in Pole and line fishing using
mechanised boats. About 75 - 80 % of the total tuna landed is
converted in to a traditional product called "Masmin" which is very
similar to that of Japanese product called "Katsuobushi".
But there is no other modern methods are used for the processing and
preservation of fish in Lakshadweep so far. As it is very essential
to have such facilities for processing the fish using modern methods in
order to fetch better prices, the department has established one number of
5 tone capacity shell ice making unit at Agatti, one each 5tone capacity
cold storages at Agatti, Kavaratti and Androth, one number of one tone
capacity tunnel freezer and two numbers of 5 tone each capacity cold
storages at Chethlath. Beside, machineries and equipment have already
been procured to establish on each 10 tone capacity Sea Water Block Ice
Plant at Kavaratti and Andrott. Action has also been initiated to
established 2 more such plants on at Bitra and another at Kadmath. Now the fishermen of Lakshadweep are free to
utilise these facilities for preservation of their catch to produce
quality products. Besides these one tuna canning factory established
and operated by the department successfully is handed over and
presently run by the LDCL in Minicoy island. |
VI. HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FOR
FISHERIES |
Under this programme the department has
established one Fishermen Training Centre presently functioned in Amini
Island. In this center one batch of 20 candidates are admitted and
one year training is given. The candidates are trained in the
operation of mechanised fishing boats, repair and maintenance of engines
of fishing boats, fabrication and maintenance of fishing gears, navigation
and seamanship, fish processing etc.. This is a practical
oriented course in which main thrust is given in imparting training in
different types of fishing methods suitable to Lakshadweep waters.
Besides these short term training programmes are also arranged for the
locals in diversified fishing methods. Opportunities are also
provided to eligible persons to work as paid apprentice in the
marine workshops of the departments in in the repair and maintenance of
engines of fishing boats to acquire more knowledge. |
VII.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES |
- Construction and supply of mechanised
fishing boats on subsidy under higher purchase system.
- Supply of inboard engines at full cost under
higher purchase system
- Supply of VHF and GPS at full cost under higher
purchase system
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Strengthening of shore based
infrastructural facilities by providing sea water ice plants, tunnel
freezers, cold storages etc..
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Strengthening of database of
fishermen and fish landing
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Assessment of potential fisheries
resources of Lakshadweep waters.
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Development of deep sea fishing by
introducing long line and gill nets.
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Introduction of Satellite assisted
Vessel monitoring system
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Effective implementation of
Lakshadweep marine fishing regulation and stopping of poaching by
outsiders.
-
Providing mid sea bunkering
facilities.
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Supply of insulated fish boxes for
keeping fish on board fishing vessels in fresh condition.
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Marketing facilities for fisheries
product from Lakshadweep.
-
Introduction of collector vessel /
mother vessel for enhancement of fish production.
-
Improve the quality of "Masmin "
to bring it at par with "Katsuobushi " a similar product of
Japan.
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